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“In Bath, with the high cost of housing, it is important that wages reflect the actual costs of living in the city.

“A £10 per hour wage may not be far off the mark for Bath, but as a national policy, Labour’s plan will lead to rising unemployment as many employers simply won’t be able to afford these wages at a time of worsening economic conditions.

“I would prefer an independent board to establish the appropriate wage across sectors and reflecting the actual living cost per local area, rather than Labour's one size fits all policy.”

Councillor Paul Myers (Image: Artur Lesniak/Trinity Mirror)

Councillor Paul Myers, chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Conservative Group, said: “It was a Conservative government which introduced the National Living Wage in April 2016, giving the lowest paid their biggest pay rise for 20 years and ensuring such a worker is now £1,400 better off.

“The Conservatives will continue to increase the National Living Wage to 60% of median earnings by 2020, and then by the rate of median earnings.

“This means people on the lowest pay benefit from the same improvements in earnings as higher-paid workers, while protecting jobs.

“Since 2010, over 4 million of the lowest paid have been taken out of tax thanks to the increase in the personal allowance, which is currently £11,500.

“Employment is now at a record high, with over 3 million more people in work since 2010, while unemployment is at the lowest level in over 40 years.

“Labour’s reckless policies would lead to more borrowing, higher taxes and fewer jobs, putting at risk the economic progress we’ve made as a country in recent years.”